However, unlike the Shrek group who looked like they had finally gotten their revenge, Xue Ye and Prince Xue Xing, who were seated in the VIP section, did not look too good.
There is a qualitative difference in strength between the Heaven Dou Second Team and the Heaven Dou Team One, and they are well aware of this.
The Heaven Dou Second Team was originally established as a backup for the First Team, and its resources and personnel cannot be compared with those of the First Team.
The Heaven Dou Second Team could accept losing in the qualifiers and not even making it to the finals.
If you're not strong enough, you lose; the empire isn't so weak that it can't even afford to lose a single academy competition.
However, Prince Xue Xing was the person in charge of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family within the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and Xue Ye was the nominal dean of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Shrek Academy's stunt was undoubtedly an attempt to humiliate them and swagger over them.
Defeating the Heaven Dou Second Team was one thing, but afterwards they even had a healing-type Soul Master publicly heal their defeated opponent.
This isn't about showing class; it's about wearing the word "humiliation" clearly on one's face.
If they really wanted to save face for the imperial family, they could have restrained themselves after securing victory and given the Heaven Dou Second Team a chance to make a dignified exit.
But Shrek didn't.
They chose the most flamboyant and ruthless way to declare their strength, and in doing so, trampled the face of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team and the royal family behind them.
What bothers them is not the loss itself, but being humiliated in front of others.
However, although the two were dissatisfied, they did not show it in front of everyone.
Meng Shenji, seated towards the back of the VIP section, looked at the Shrek members leaving the stage and shook his head with slight regret.
In his view, it would have been ideal if these people from the Shrek Academy had been able to successfully join the Heaven Dou Royal Academy back then.
With the talent and strength of Tang San, Dai Mubai, and others, they will undoubtedly play a significant role in strengthening the overall combat power of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
However, his regret was only momentary.
Meng Shenji quickly adjusted his mindset, and his gaze subconsciously turned towards the direction of the Heaven Dou Team One's rest area in the distance, landing on the figure who was quietly watching the battle.
It doesn't matter if I didn't join.
Anyway, they have Lin Mo now in Heaven Dou.
With Lin Mo on the team, Heaven Dou Team One is the strongest contender for the Soul Master Tournament championship. No matter how strong Shrek Academy is, can they possibly be stronger than Heaven Dou Team One with Lin Mo?
Thinking of this, the regret in his heart vanished instantly.
On the first day of the qualifiers, Lin Mo was not in a hurry to leave.
Like the other members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team, he stayed in the rest area and silently watched the other teams' matches.
As he remembered, apart from the Shrek Academy, an old acquaintance, the other teams that displayed impressive combat power were the Five Elements Academy, including Elephant Armor Academy.
The main arena of the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, where they are currently located, has a total of five qualifying spots.
This means that, among the six teams that qualify for the finals, including Five Elements Academy Shrek Academy, which have emerged as a dark horse, one team will be eliminated and lose its chance to participate in the finals.
The competition was already fierce from the preliminary rounds.
By the time all the matches for the day were over, it was nearly evening.
Lin Mo, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling left the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena together.
The three did not return directly to the Dugu Manor.
At a fork in the road, Lin Mo stopped and looked at Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling beside him.
" Sister Yanyan, Sister Lengleng, I've arranged to meet Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wu, and a few others at a restaurant tonight. Would you like to come along?"
Dugu Yan blinked. " Feng Xiaotian? Huo Wu? People from Divine Wind and Blazing Fire? What do you want with them?"
"I need their help with something," Lin Mo said.
Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling nodded slightly, "I'll go."
Dugu Yan took Ye Lingling's arm. " Lengleng is going, then I'll naturally go too. It's been a long time since I've seen Huo Wu."
Ever since the last exchange between colleges, she's been talking about you constantly. I want to see what she's up to this time.
Lin Mo smiled but didn't respond to that. "Then let's go back and change into casual clothes first, and then head over later. The agreed-upon place is Gathered Worthies Pavilion, which isn't far from here."
An hour later, in the Heaven Dou City, at the Gathered Worthies Pavilion.
This was a rather grand restaurant, and Lin Mo had booked a quiet private room on the third floor facing the street in advance.
When Lin Mo and his two companions pushed open the door to the private room, there were already four people sitting inside.
By the window, Feng Xiaotian was fiddling with a teacup. Hearing the noise, he looked up and a hearty smile spread across his face, "Brother Lin Mo, you've finally arrived!"
Huo Wu was wearing a red outfit today, which made her skin appear even whiter and made her look quite radiant and beautiful.
She was currently resting her chin on her hand, staring intently at Lin Mo at the doorway, making no attempt to conceal her gaze.
On the other side, Yu Tianxin sat upright with a calm demeanor. When she saw Lin Mo enter, she nodded slightly in greeting.
Shui Bing'er sat quietly beside him, wearing a light blue dress and exuding a cool and aloof aura. She nodded to Lin Mo and the other two as a greeting.
"I apologize for keeping you all waiting," Lin Mo said.
"It's alright, we just arrived recently," Feng Xiaotian said with a wave of his hand and a smile.
The waiter quickly served exquisite dishes and drinks, then left the room and closed the door behind him.
After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually became more lively, and everyone chatted casually.
Huo Wu, however, wasn't very interested in the topics they were discussing.
Her gaze was mostly fixed on Lin Mo, but she finally couldn't hold back any longer. She put down her chopsticks and said directly, " Lin Mo, it's really not easy to meet you, this cultivation fanatic."
Her voice was clear and crisp, with a hint of mischief and complaint.
"It's been almost a year since we last saw each other, hasn't it? You, on the other hand, have been secluded day and night, rarely seen."
Huo Wu's words made no attempt to hide her affection and curiosity for Lin Mo.
She's a straightforward girl; once she makes a decision, she'll do it, and she won't be coy or hide her feelings for someone she likes.
She tried many times to find an opportunity to talk to Lin Mo again, but she was never able to.
Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, who were standing to the side, both looked up at Huo Wu as soon as she Huo Wu.
The two men eyed Huo Wu with considerable Huo Wu, especially Dugu Yan, whose smile still lingered on her lips, but whose eyes betrayed a hint of suspicion, as if she were guarding against a thief.
After all, during the last academy exchange, Huo Wu had already made it clear that she was very interested in Lin Mo.
Lin Mo could naturally Frisk the subtle changes in the atmosphere at the table, especially the silent gazes of the two people beside him.
Meeting Huo Wu's gaze, he said frankly, "I dare not slack off in my cultivation; I'm sorry to have troubled you, Miss Huo Wu."
Huo Wu didn't seem surprised by his response. "You didn't just invite us out this time to catch up, did you?"
"Just say what's on your mind."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiaotian, Yu Tianxin, and Shui Bing'er also stopped what they were doing and turned their gazes toward Lin Mo.
Given Lin Mo's personality, the fact that he simultaneously summoned key figures from all four academies must mean something important was on his mind.
Seeing this, Lin Mo stopped beating around the bush, "I invited you all here today because I really want to ask you for a favor."
"Of course, I won't let you help for nothing. As payment, I'll give you some information that you'll find extremely interesting."